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The Rest Is HistoryJuly 27, 2025
586. Mary, Queen of Scots: The Battle for Scotland (Part 3)
About This Episode
Following the death of her husband, the King of France, was the glamorous Mary welcomed back to Scotland, her kingdom since infancy, with open arms or deep suspicion? Did she handle the precarious situation in which she found herself well, or recklessly? Did the majority of Scottish nobles side with Mary, or plot to usurp her in the shadows? When her eye turned on the crown of her wealthier neighbour, England, how did its reigning queen, Elizabeth I, react? And, who was the man that Mary choose to take as her second husband…? Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss Mary Queen of Scots’ polarising return to her native land of Scotland, riven by religious factionalism and political disquiet, and the terrible dangers of being a Scottish queen in more than name alone. The Rest Is History Club: Become a member for exclusive bonus content, early access to full series and live show tickets, ad-free listening, our exclusive newsletter, discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod, and our members’ chatroom on Discord. Just head to therestishistory.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestishistory. For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Producer: Theo Young-Smith Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett + Aaliyah Akude
Book Mentions
3 book mentions in this episode.
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Books Mentioned
The History of the Reformation
John Knox
“This is John Knox. He was the great Protestant reformer we talked about last week. This is his history of the Reformation. Now, if you think that's a daunting book, you're quite wrong.”
ASIN: N/A
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Mary Queen of Scots
Jenny Wormald
“Another answer is to say, as Jenny Wormald in her very negative book about Mary Queen of Scots, is to say that she's a ruler whose life was marked by irresponsibility and failure, on a scale unparalleled in her own day.”
ASIN: N/A
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“Of course and that is Mary Tudor so bloody Mary and it may seem odd that that that a historian is criticizing Mary Queen of Scots for not being like more like Mary Tudor whose reign is a failure.”
ASIN: N/A
Search on AmazonClick the book cover image to open the affiliate link.